Derby Weekend

Since vacationing to New York with family, I am having a tough time attempting to catch up with my blogging. So this is what you get… a quick snapshot of what actually happened a week and a half ago.

On the last weekend of June, my weekend plans were sent into a spiral spin… Friday night, I wasn’t feeling well so I crashed around 9:00 pm, leaving Roger to enjoy Tan Sister Radio and Scarlet Symphony at the Ken Club. At least one of us could represent.

I wasn’t skating this tournament (as I have little practice on the banked track), so I offered to manage on Saturday. The tournament was set up over two days. On Saturday, each team would play a 30-minute game (two 15-minute halves) with the other teams in their respective brackets. On Sunday, there would be two games: (1) first and second place team in the A bracket and (2) the third place team in the A bracket versus the first place team in the B bracket.

After the upset last month against the LA Derby Dolls, I thought that making it to Sunday was nearly impossible. So I made plans to go to the Del Mar Fair (yes, it’s true name) to see the Demolition Derby. I love derby of all kinds!

To my surprise, as well as to the surprise of nearly everyone at the tournament, San Diego Derby Dolls ruled over the B bracket Saturday. First with a crushing victory over Orange County, then in a vicious battle against LA Derby Dolls’ Golden Girls.

So hastily, I made the decision to return on Sunday to help with the game. I did drive up and back on both days. What it would take to fill my Mini Cooper’s tank is about half of what it would cost to get a hotel room for the night. Plus, their is something to be said for wearing clean underwear and sleeping in your own bed.

I would love to recap the gory details of each of the games, but I would like to eventually get caught up with the rest of my life and blog so I will leave it to the ones who have already covered the insanity.

Derby News Network – covered the tournament, play-by-play with commentary (archived for your enjoyment) and summerized the aftermath including an official statement by the head ref regarding the issues with the rules.

End the end, I will say this… the rules were written by a doosh (his words, not mine) there by causing much controversy and confusion. The crowd was chanting “bullsh*t” at one point in the tournament. But despite the turmoil, those who attended this tournament can attest to witnessing some of the most amazing derby that they have every seen – nail biting endings, blocks that make you cringe, strategic plays that seemed impossible to execute – this weekend had it all.